MIAA reaches solution on test, game scheduling conflicts

Local reaction is mixed to a compromise reached between lawmakers and the state’s athletic association regarding conflicts between college boards and tournament games.The issue came to the forefront last month when several students from Chelmsford and Methuen were forced to choose between taking SATs – the last ones offered until the new school year – and playing in a sectional semifinal baseball game that had been thrust into a morning time slot at the same time the tests were being administered.”We keep talking about student athletes,” Molea said, “and I think we have to remember what our priorities are. And our priorities are kids taking their SATs.”The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association said the scheduling conflicts, which resulted in debate on talk radio shows, have existed for years, without any complaints before.The did, however, in 2003, when several Peabody High baseball players had to take SATs on the morning of the Tanners’ Division 1 North final against Malden Catholic. The team waited for the players to complete the test and arrived in Lowell past its scheduled reporting time. That set off a chain of events that resulted in a shouting match between coach Ed Nizwantowski and tournament officials that spilled over into the post-game ceremony.Last month, 14 students from Chelmsford and Methuen had the same problem, as did those from Hopkins Academy and turner Falls. As a result, Rep. John Scibak of South Hadley filed legislation to prohibit the organization from scheduling games at the same time as the college entrance exam.The compromise, reached last week and unveiled Thursday, mandates that the MIAA not schedule events on the June SAT date unless principals Under the agreement, which was unveiled Thursday, no spring tournament games will be scheduled prior to 2 p.m. on the June SAT test date, other than outdoor track and field, unless principals of the schools are advised in writing two weeks prior to the date so they can request an alternate test date.Track and field events take all day, and would be difficult to start after 2 p.m., MIAA officials told lawmakers.The MIAA will also send an email to all principals and athletic directors at the beginning of the outdoor track and field season to plan accordingly to request alternate test dates for student athletes to take the June SAT test.This doesn’t sit particularly well with St. Mary’s athletic director Jeff Newhall.”There’s ample time to take (SATs),” he said. “We try to communicate with our kids when the SATs are. We were in the Super Bowl on the same day as the SATs were taken and we didn’t have one problem.”I think it’s incumbent upon the schools to educate their students on when these tests are.”Both Molea and Classical principal Gene Constantino feel the entire onus should be on the MIAA to schedule games around the tests.”These are important tests for juniors,” Constantino said. “I can tell you, as a former guidance counselor, most of these kids take the test twice. This is an unfair burden to put on student athletes.”I don’t understand why (the MIAA) doesn’t do everything it can to accommodate the students,” he said.”(The MIAA) has all the leeway,” Molea said.”They can get all the fields. They can move things around.”